Suffolk’s public schools, already reeling from local and state revenue shortfalls, got another bit of bad news this week.

The Suffolk School Board’s operating budget for 2009-2010 will include millions of dollars less federal money than originally had been expected, according to Superintendent Milton Liverman, who broke the bad news at Thursday night’s budget work session.

Initial reports said the school division would receive about $12.9 million in stimulus funds.

“That $12.9 million never existed,” Liverman told the members of the Suffolk School Board.

Liverman said that approximately $2.9 million meant for new school construction was never appropriated for the stimulus funds. It was negotiated out during the federal budget process.

As it stands, the school division expects to receive about $10.4 million in stimulus money for the next two years. About $4.9 million of that amount is for the first year only, does not have to be spent in specific categories and can go directly to the budget.

The remaining $5.5 million is subject to specific prerequisites before it can be used. And Liverman pointed out even that number could change based on changes from the state.

“So, again, we’re close to having a final number, but even now we don’t have a final number,” he said.

After a presentation from Liverman and Finance Director Michael Brinkley, the board voted unanimously to amend the budget to add about half of the stimulus money earmarked for Title I and special education, which was about $2.8 million.

Liverman also cautioned the board against trying to use the stimulus money to avoid trimming staff, because that money will not be available after two years, meaning the school system would have to come up with another way to pay for the positions.

Additionally, he advised the board to look for ways to cut even more money from the budget.

“The full problem materializes in ‘11-‘12,” Liverman said. “My recommendation is not to wait until then to start reducing. Everything on which you spend money today is going to have to be examined.”

No more reductions were made Thursday night, but Board Member Enoch Copeland said that it seemed with cuts looming, the need for home involvement and “whole commitment from the community” would be even greater than before.

“It appears that we’re going to be going back to the old methods and behaviors that existed years ago, that parents are going to have to step up to the plate full-time with the cuts that are going to be made,” Copeland said “We’re going to have to emphasize more parental help.”